Savak
World Star
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2006
- Runs
- 50,148
- Post of the Week
- 3
Najam Sethi speaking on the Umar Akmal issue
"I know Umar Akmal well. When I went into PCB initially, the first problem I faced that I had to take a tough decision on was Umar Akmal.
"We found out that there were medical reports about him that had been hidden, we found them with great difficulty. We found out that he has epileptic fits.
"This happened to him during a tour, but the team tried to hide it and let him play.
"Think about if he is playing and has an epileptic fit and what will happen.
"That's in the PCB's records, doctor's reports. It was during a tour of WI or SA when the doctors reported this.
"When he came back, I told him that why don't you get treatment for this? He resisted it a lot and said no, but I said it's there in the report. He refused to accept it, sometimes he accepted it and said forgive me.
"Forgive him for what? It's a medical problem that requires treatment. And until you get that treatment, please stay a little away from cricket.
"You're playing Test cricket at such a major role, you open sometimes and the team depends on you. If there is this type of instability, we should take action.
"He refused to listen. I told him to stop playing for a couple of months and rest and wait for the next report from the doctor after which I would re-evaluate.
"Throughout this time, selectors knew about this. Once they had the information, I wouldn't intervene and left it up to them. They had to take the decision and they were responsible for the rest.
"From time to time, he would get selected. Throughout, he has had problems. Big people spoke to him, Haroon Rasheed, Subhan, myself, coaches, everyone.
"Every 2-3 months he would get into a controversy or some issue. He wouldn't accept it and always say that didn't happen. He would make noise in the media about it.
"Umar Akmal has a psychological and medical problem due to which all this happens, there is no doubt about it.
"He has been approached before as well and we warned him. We banned him a couple of times for 3-6 months but he never understood.
"In the media some people say he is talented etc. and keep a light hand on him but this was to happen, this 3 year ban.
"Umar is not there mentally, he doesn't believe in discipline. He is a very talented kid.
"If he sits with a psychiatrist or gets some medical treatment, he can become discipline oriented.
"But he doesn't believe in discipline, he's an individualist and plays for himself, not for the team. But he is brilliant and that causes problems for the selectors.
"When he's in form, he's unbeatable, one of the most talented cricketers we have ever produced. He plays instintively, not with his mind unfortunately.
"I'm afraid he was approached a couple of times and didn't inform anyone.
"I had made very strict rules in our admin, for people being approached. Before, there used to be approaches and no one bothered, there were no rules. We made rules and implemented them and gave penalties to Irfan, etc.
"The people who were approached informed us and they were in our good books. But there were some who didn't inform us and we would find out and then sanction them.
"This 3 year ban is right, ICC and PCB and other boards are becoming tough about these measures and we have to comply with international best measures.
"Umar's career is threatened now. If there's some review we'll see but he's completely incorrigible, he doesn't listen and he has a mental problem as well as physical which is why he has epileptic fits, etc.
"There is a rule that if there is a small crime and you accept it and everything happens according to proceedings, your sentence will be lessened. And it's stated that if you serve it then you can come back on merit.
"This was the situation with Amir, he served his sentence and then came back on the basis of performance. He helped ICC a lot and did everything he was required to.
"He had the right to come back which he did on form.
"Two others, Asif and Salman Butt, they didn't accept it. They kept denying it despite their evidence. Thus, their punishment didn't finish and till today, there are questions about them. They can play domestic cricket but they aren't selected because when you go overseas, you need visas and if their visa is applied for, then it might be rejected.
"Sharjeel has served his sentence and he'll be able to play. He didn't completely accept his guilt but he has served his punishment. He actually did fixing and we have evidence.
"Irfan accepted he had been approached so he served a small ban.
"We set these rules to protect PSL and Pakistan cricket. If you read the old reports then there are no big names in the past of Pakistan cricketer who didn't do something. But now in this era, this stuff isn't tolerated at all and we take a very hard line on it.
"I think Umar Akmal's career is finished now. 3 years, if his ban is for that long, he will have become older and that instinctive eye for the game will also reduce. So I think this is the end of the line for him."
"I know Umar Akmal well. When I went into PCB initially, the first problem I faced that I had to take a tough decision on was Umar Akmal.
"We found out that there were medical reports about him that had been hidden, we found them with great difficulty. We found out that he has epileptic fits.
"This happened to him during a tour, but the team tried to hide it and let him play.
"Think about if he is playing and has an epileptic fit and what will happen.
"That's in the PCB's records, doctor's reports. It was during a tour of WI or SA when the doctors reported this.
"When he came back, I told him that why don't you get treatment for this? He resisted it a lot and said no, but I said it's there in the report. He refused to accept it, sometimes he accepted it and said forgive me.
"Forgive him for what? It's a medical problem that requires treatment. And until you get that treatment, please stay a little away from cricket.
"You're playing Test cricket at such a major role, you open sometimes and the team depends on you. If there is this type of instability, we should take action.
"He refused to listen. I told him to stop playing for a couple of months and rest and wait for the next report from the doctor after which I would re-evaluate.
"Throughout this time, selectors knew about this. Once they had the information, I wouldn't intervene and left it up to them. They had to take the decision and they were responsible for the rest.
"From time to time, he would get selected. Throughout, he has had problems. Big people spoke to him, Haroon Rasheed, Subhan, myself, coaches, everyone.
"Every 2-3 months he would get into a controversy or some issue. He wouldn't accept it and always say that didn't happen. He would make noise in the media about it.
"Umar Akmal has a psychological and medical problem due to which all this happens, there is no doubt about it.
"He has been approached before as well and we warned him. We banned him a couple of times for 3-6 months but he never understood.
"In the media some people say he is talented etc. and keep a light hand on him but this was to happen, this 3 year ban.
"Umar is not there mentally, he doesn't believe in discipline. He is a very talented kid.
"If he sits with a psychiatrist or gets some medical treatment, he can become discipline oriented.
"But he doesn't believe in discipline, he's an individualist and plays for himself, not for the team. But he is brilliant and that causes problems for the selectors.
"When he's in form, he's unbeatable, one of the most talented cricketers we have ever produced. He plays instintively, not with his mind unfortunately.
"I'm afraid he was approached a couple of times and didn't inform anyone.
"I had made very strict rules in our admin, for people being approached. Before, there used to be approaches and no one bothered, there were no rules. We made rules and implemented them and gave penalties to Irfan, etc.
"The people who were approached informed us and they were in our good books. But there were some who didn't inform us and we would find out and then sanction them.
"This 3 year ban is right, ICC and PCB and other boards are becoming tough about these measures and we have to comply with international best measures.
"Umar's career is threatened now. If there's some review we'll see but he's completely incorrigible, he doesn't listen and he has a mental problem as well as physical which is why he has epileptic fits, etc.
"There is a rule that if there is a small crime and you accept it and everything happens according to proceedings, your sentence will be lessened. And it's stated that if you serve it then you can come back on merit.
"This was the situation with Amir, he served his sentence and then came back on the basis of performance. He helped ICC a lot and did everything he was required to.
"He had the right to come back which he did on form.
"Two others, Asif and Salman Butt, they didn't accept it. They kept denying it despite their evidence. Thus, their punishment didn't finish and till today, there are questions about them. They can play domestic cricket but they aren't selected because when you go overseas, you need visas and if their visa is applied for, then it might be rejected.
"Sharjeel has served his sentence and he'll be able to play. He didn't completely accept his guilt but he has served his punishment. He actually did fixing and we have evidence.
"Irfan accepted he had been approached so he served a small ban.
"We set these rules to protect PSL and Pakistan cricket. If you read the old reports then there are no big names in the past of Pakistan cricketer who didn't do something. But now in this era, this stuff isn't tolerated at all and we take a very hard line on it.
"I think Umar Akmal's career is finished now. 3 years, if his ban is for that long, he will have become older and that instinctive eye for the game will also reduce. So I think this is the end of the line for him."
Last edited by a moderator:
